Rotherham United: Millers boss Steve Evans’ call to axed players

Paul Davis

Rotherham United’s dropped promotion heroes have been challenged to fight their way back into favour.

Boss Steve Evans made seven changes for last Saturday’s Championship draw with Blackpool as he pinned his faith in his four new loan signings and consigned some of the players weho had led the club out of Leagues One and Two to the bench.

“They have to fight. To be fair, we’ve got great characters in the dressing room here,” Evans said.

The Millers manager named Alex Revell, Lee Frecklington and Kari Arnason among the substitutes against the Seasiders, while Joe Skarz didn’t even make the matchday squad.

“The likes of big Alex who came on and Frecks, people like that, they’re used to it,” Evans said.

“They’ve been out before in Leagues One and Two and come back fighting, all guns blazing, and worked their way back into the team. They need to do it. We’re going to work with this group. It doesn’t mean we’re going to be the same team, but we’re going to work with them.”

Frecklington yesterday signed a contract extension through to 2017.

“Getting this done early is very important because I can just concentrate purely on football,” the central midfielder said.

He was a key member of the side which won back-to-back promotions this year and last, and played in May’s League One Play-off Final at Wembley

“You won’t get a better feeling than winning at Wembley,” he said “Of course, the goal against Aldershot (League Two promotioin-clincher)was a big thing and a great day for me personally, but overall I don’t think you can ever beat winning at Wembley.”

Last Saturday’s point eased the Millers out of the drop zone, and they now travel to Cardiff on Saturday.

Right-back Frazer Richardson is expected to be fit again, but Evans warned: ““He’ll have to get the shirt off Scotty Wootton.